Boy Old Testament Known
Zalmunna
shadow; image; idol forbidden
צַלְמֻנָּע tsal.mun.na
Zalmunna (Hebrew: צַלְמֻנָּע, tsal.mun.na) means “shadow; image; idol forbidden”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 9 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Gideon in Judges 8.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Zalmunna
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 9 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Judges
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Judges 8:5 |
| Last appears | Psalms 83:11 |
| Cross-references | 97 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Zebah co-occurrence Appears with Zebah in Judges 8.
- Zeeb co-occurrence Appears with Zeeb in Psalms 83.
- Oreb co-occurrence Appears with Oreb in Psalms 83.
- Jether co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jether.
- Gideon co-occurrence Appears with Gideon in Judges 8.
- Hagri co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Hagri.
- Ishmael co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Ishmael.
- Joash co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Joash.
Origin & meaning
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.8.5
§ Zalmunna = "deprived of protection"
a Midianite king slain by Gideon
Zalmunna was a Midianite king who was defeated and killed by Gideon during the time of the judges.
The biblical story
Zalmunna was one of the two Midianite kings, along with Zebah, who oppressed Israel during the time of the judges. The Midianites, in alliance with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, regularly raided Israel and destroyed their crops. God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites. After a decisive battle, Gideon pursued the fleeing Midianite army and captured Zalmunna and Zebah. Gideon questioned them about the men they had killed at Tabor, and upon learning that they were his brothers, he executed Zalmunna and Zebah. The defeat of these Midianite kings brought about a period of peace for Israel. The psalmist later refers to Zalmunna and Zebah as examples of God's enemies who were defeated and destroyed.
Key verses
Zalmunna appears in 9 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
Judges 8:5 -
And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
Judges 8:6 -
And Gideon said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
Judges 8:7 -
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
Judges 8:10 -
And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
Judges 8:12
Show all 9 references
Judges (8)
- Judges 8:5
- Judges 8:6
- Judges 8:7
- Judges 8:10
- Judges 8:12
- Judges 8:15
- Judges 8:18
- Judges 8:21
Psalms (1)
- Psalms 83:11